Philip F. Leach, chairman emeritus of the Leach & Garner Company, died on June 19 at the age of 87.

“For those of us here at Leach & Garner-General Findings, he was a person who made every one of us feel that we were an important part of his extended family as well as an appreciated co-worker,” a company statement said. “Phil Leach enjoyed a long and glorious life dedicated to the whole-hearted support of his family, the jewelry industry, and his hometown communities in Massachusetts and Vermont. He defined his life through the unselfish giving of time, wisdom, creativity and philanthropy. He was a gracious, learned gentleman with a humble, gentle demeanor joined with great intellectual strength and vision and a wonderful sense of humor.”

In addition to successfully advancing the family business, which his father Edwin Leach co-founded in 1899, Phil Leach is credited with an extensive list of personal and business accomplishments. His wife, Virginia Newberry Leach, passed away 10 years ago. He is survived by a son, Ted Leach, the current company president; and four daughters, Robin Moody, Glendale, Calif., Suzanne Charity, New York, Christina Clark Lyme, N.H., and Lucinda A. Leach of Takoma Park, Md. He also leaves 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Second Congressional Church in Attleboro, Mass. Leach & Garner Company will close at noon that day in his honor. In keeping with Philip Leach’s charitable nature, the Leach family has suggested that any donations made in his honor could go toward two of his favorite charities:

Attleboro Art Museum
86 Park Street
Attleboro, MA 02703
C/O Philip Leach Art Education Fund

Lake Morey Foundation
P.O. Box 234
Fairlee, VT 05045

JCK